Ice tray



'Feb. 13,1940. R IPER 2,190,502

ICE TRAY Filed May 7. 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORZ flan cya- 'l/IS ATTORNEYS.

F. P. KEIPER Feb. 13, 1940.

ICE TRAY Filed May 7 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. F7e44 c/J P KE/Pfe BY l/IJ ATTORNEYS Feb. 13, 1940. F. P. KEIPER 2,190,502

ICE TRAY Filed May '7, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 NJ r M I I Q f/IS ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 13, '1940 PATENT OFFICE ICE TRAY Francis P. Kelper, Philadelphia, Pa... assignor to General Motors corporation, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware 4 Application May I, 1938, Serial N0. 208,613

This invention relates to grids or molds andis particularly adapted for use in trays of liquid freezing devices employed in household refrig erators.

5 An object of my invention is teflprovide an improved grid structure for disposition in an ice tray to divide the tray into a plurality of ice block molds or compartments and a novel method of removing the grid from the tray and ice blocks from the grid structure without the application of artificial heat.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved grid structure for disposition in an ice tray which is removable therefrom as a unit to remove ice blocks from the tray and which includes a backbone member that can be readily flexed after the grid has been removed from the tray to facilitate the liberation of ice blocks from the grid structure.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved grid structure for an ice tray which comprises a plurality of rigid partitions secured to a flexible backbone member for dividing the interior of the tray into a plurality of ice block compartments and wherein the backbone member may be flexed after removal of the grid from the tray to how the grid structure and cause movement of the rigid partitions relative to one another for breaking ice blocks from certain walls so thereof'and for enlarging the ice block compartments.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved grid structure for an ice tray according to the preceding object and wherein the partition carrying backbone member is normally out of contact with ice blocks formed in the structure and wherein the rigid partitions are of such form or configuration as to cooperate with one another to provide a longitudinal wall and a plu- 40 rality of walls extending laterally therefrom for dividing the interior of the tray into rows of ice block compartments.

A still further object of my'invention is to provide a grid structure of the type described in the foregoing objects with means for removably looking the grid in a tray to prevent bowing of the grid backbone member while the grid structure is positioned in the tray to thereby maintain the grid in a normal ice freezing position within the tray.

Still further and more specific objects and advantages reside inthe simplicity of operation of my improved grid structure and in novel combinations and arrangements of parts thereof to provide a durable structure of low manufacturing costs as will more fully appear in the course of the following description.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an improved freezing device having a grid structure constructed according to myinvention disposed in the tray thereof;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the tray of the improved freezing device taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1 and showing the grid 10 thereof in elevation;

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view of the freezing device taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing ice 15 within the tray of the freezing device and disclosing the tray in a twisted position;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the grid structure and ice blocks bonded thereto elevated-xrelative to the tray of the freezing device; 20

and

Fig. 6 is a view of the grid removed from the tray and bowed to move certain of its walls relative to other walls thereof to break ice blocks loose from some of the grid walls. 25

The improved freezing device of the present invention comprises a metallic grid structure In removably disposed in a metal tray I I. The tray 'I I is of the so-called Presto flexible metal type and has a portion of its bottom wall I2 near each end thereof raised, as at I4, so as to be disposed at an angle relative to the flat portion thereof. These raised or angled bottom wall portions ll of tray ll each provide a shoulder or fulcrum line I5 which extends transversely across the tray bottom at an angle to the extension of the tray end walls It and I1. The side walls and end walls It and ll of tray II diverge outwardly toward the top of the tray. It will be noted that the back wall I! is diverged outwardly toward the top 40 of the tray a greater distance than other walls thereof for the purpose of facilitating removal of the grid it from the tray as will become apparent hereinafter. The upright walls of tray II have their upper portion rolled or bent over as at I8 to provide a rim which extends substantially entirely around the tray to increase its structural I strength while retaining its flexibility to permit twisting thereof. A portion of the metal of tray I l is extended downwardly from the rim I8, as at so l9, (see Fig. 2) at the front of the tray and provides amounting for a heavy metal piece 2| which has a handle 22 pivotally secured thereto as at 23. The handle 22 is provided with a cam surface or surfaces 24 for a purpose to be here-'5 at 26 to provide a ledge' or protrusion 3|. The

purpose of the pocket 28 and the protrusion 3| will become apparent in the description of the grid structure and operation of the device.

The metallic grid structure l6 removably disposed within tray II is of a unitary construction and includes or comprises a plurality of vertically disposed metal sections or partitions 36. These partitions 36 are/bent as at 31 and 38 (see Fig. l) to form them into a zigzag configuration to provide wall portions 4|, 42 and 43. Partitions 36 are arranged closely adjacent one another with the wall portion 42 thereof in substantial alignment with one another to provide the grid l0 with a sectional longitudinal wall. The wall portions 4| and 43 of partitions 36 are disposed in spaced apart relation along the length of the grid and extend laterally from the longitudinal grid wall to provide a row of ice block compartments 45 on each side thereof. Partitions 36 each have ears 46 formed integral therewith and extending from the top edgeof wall part 42 thereof which ears extend through spaced apart slots provided in a flat relatively long flexible horizontally disposed supporting or backbone member 48 extending longitudinally of the tray The ears 46 are bent over against and may be welded or otherwise suitably secured to the member 48 to permanently attach the partitions 36 to this backbone member. At each end of the unitary grid structure I6 there is a vertically disposed partition 5| (see Fig. l) bent as at 52 to form same into a substantially L- shape in planular configuration and to provide wall portions 53 and 54. These L-shaped partitions 5| are permanently attached to the flexible grid backbone 48 in the same manner that partitions 36 are attached thereto. The wall parts 54 of partitions 5| form the end portions of the longitudinal grid wall, and the part 54 of the one partition 5| at the back of tray II is cut away as at 56 (see Fig. 2) to permit movement of a lever carried by the grid Ill. The wall portion 54 of L- shaped partition 5|, located at the back of tray II and having the cut away part 56, is provided with an integral upwardly extending stud portion 6| (see Fig. 2).

A lever 62 carried by the grid I6 is provided with an opening 63 therein (see Fig. 1) which is fitted over the stud portion 6| of partition 5| v and thereafter the top of the stud portion 6| is beaded over or flattened out to provide a head 64 thereon. The head 64 secures lever 62 to the grid structure In and permits tilting and horizontal movement of the lever about the stud 6| relative to the grid. Lever 62 has a handle end 66 and a short end 61 and is provided with a depending bearing surface 68 struck therefrom at the opening 63. The edge portion of short end 61 of lever 62 is bent down to provide a finger 63 which fits into the pocket 28 formed by the bent portions 26 and 21 of the top edge of tray The handle end 66 of lever 62 has an integral outwardly directed portion 1| bent downas at 12 and thence in at 13 (see Fig. 3). The inwardly directed portion 13 of the lever 62 is hooked under backbone member 48, andthe lever is adapted to be turned horizontally about stud portion 6| in a direction transverse of the gridstructure to remove portion 13 thereof from member so as to permit elevation and tilting of the lever. The end 15 of the flexible backbone member 48 opposite the lever end of grid |6 is located under the ledge or protrusion 3| formed by the inwardly bent part 23 of tray ll. Thus, it will be seen that the metallic grid structure i6 is of a unitary construction and that it is'removably locked in the resilient metal tray II to hold the grid partitions 36 or ice block forming walls in a verticalposition. The bottom edges of the end partitions 5| of grid III are cut to conform to the angled wall portions l4 of the bottom wall l2 of tray II. It is to be understood that the walls 4|, 42 and 43 of partitions 36 and walls 53and 54 of partitions 5| may be treated or coated with a waxy or the like substance to facilitaterelease of ice blocks therefrom.

Assume that water has been frozen in the freezing device disclosed in the form of ice blocks 16 in compartments 45, by the cooling effect produced by an evaporator of a refrigerating system,,and the device is to be removed from its-support in or on the evaporator to permit harvesting of the ice blocks 16. Handle 22 is grasped by the hand and pulled forward thereby rotating about its pivotal mountings 23 to cause the cam surface 24 to apply force between the freezing device and its support. This forceelevates the freezing device relative to its support and breaks the ice bond therebetween to permit the device to be readily removed from the evaporator. The freezing device is, after removal thereof from the evaporator, placed on a flat surface such as a tabletop orledge and force is applied in a downward direction simultaneously uponjoppo site ends of the tray l I. .Since the tray is constructed of relatively thin metal, it is somewhat flexible and the force applied to its ends as described is transmitted to the fulcrum lines or 4O shoulders I 5 through the angled tray bottom wall portions l4. The construction of the tray II is such that the downward force applied to its ends causes twisting thereof as illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings to break the mass of ice, which adheres to the grid l6, loose from its walls. The tray of course, is sufliciently resilient to again. assume its normal flat position as shown in Fig. 2 after being flexed or twisted. After the mass of ice has been loosened from walls of tray ll, by twisting of the tray as shown in Fig. 4, the lever 62 is moved horizontally about its pivotal connection or stud portion 6| transversely of the freezing device to remove the hook part 13 of the lever from beneath the backbone member 46 of grid l6. Handle end 66 of lever 62 may then be elevated relative to the grid structure III as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings to-cause the finger 63 on the short end 61 thereof to pry against tray II and elevate the grid l6 and ice blocks 16 adhering thereto relative from the tray. The elevation of handle end 66 of lever 62 decreases the length of the grid structure l0 by decreasing the distance between the end 15 of backbone member 48 and the end of finger 63 on lever 62. The length of the grid structure being decreased as described permits disengagementof the end 15 of member 48 from the ledge or boss 3| at the front of tray II and permits the flnger' 63 on the short end 61 of lever 62 to. be released from the pocket 28 formed in the 70 back wall H of tray II. The grid structure I and ice blocks 16 adhering-thereto may now be readily removed from the tray II to permit or facilitate removal of ice blocksfrom the grid.

In Fig. 6 of the drawings I have disclosed the 76 unitary grid structure I II together with ice blocks 16 adhering thereto removed from the tray II and bowed to cause movement of certain of the ice block compartment walls relative to other walls thereof. The backbone member 46 is, as before stated, flexible and the grid structure 10 the operator and force applied to the backbone 4.8 inwardly of its ends, by the operator's thumbs, flexes the backbone and bows the structure into the position shown in Fig. 6. The bowing op-- eration of the grid structure It moves the partitions 36 relative to one another and also breaks of partitions 36 on one side of the grid in are.

moved or spread away from an adjacent ice block 16 and that walls ll of partitions 36 on the opposite side of grid III are also moved or spread away from an adjacent ice block. This spreading action somewhat resembles the spreading'ofl a fan and enlarges the ice block compartments 45. The bowing of grid III by bending the flexible backbone member 46 thereof not only moves certain walls of partitions 36 away from other walls and away from the ice blocks as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings but also loosens or de-- creases to a certain degree the bond-of ice-to these other walls to thereby facilitate the act of releasing the ice blocks 16 from the grid. Since the ice blocks 16 are contacting two walls only of their respective compartments and since they have been partially loosened from these two walls by flexure of the grid structure, their release is greatly facilitated and is not a diflicult task. Therefore, the ice blocks 16' can be readily removed from the enlarged ice block compartments 45 of grid ill by pushing same with the thumb or by striking them a blow with any suitable instrument. After the desired number or all ice blocks have been removed from the grid ill, the grid maybe permitte to return to its normal substantially flat pos ion for replacement in the tray Ii. The grid may, therefore, be again placed in tray II with its one end abutting tray wall i6 and end 15 of member 48 located over the ledge or boss. 3| formed on the tray. The finger end of lever 62 is again fitted in the tray pocket 28 and lever 62 is then moved horizontally into a position parallel with the backbone member 48 so as to locate the hook portion 13 of the lever thereunder for locking the grid structure Ill within the tray. The bowing of the grid l0 may, after a period of time, cause its backbone member 48 to be sprung into an abnormal, curved position, but the arrangement disclosed for locking the grid within the tray overcomes this deformation of the backbone member and assures that the grid will lie flat with its partitions vertically disposed when locked in normal ice freezing position within the tray.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have provided an improved-freezing device and a novel method of harvestingl ice blocks therefrom, since no artificial heat is required to remove the ice from the tray and. ice blocks from the grid. The

grid of the freezing device is of improved struc-- ture and, by forming same of a flexible backbone with substantially non-flexible partitions or ice compartment forming walls secured thereto, it is of a unitary construction and yet readily flexible to break ice therefrom. My improved grid is of low cost, strong and durable and also effective to'removo ice blocks therefrom without shatterj ing the blocks. By constructing the grid entions. In the present device the lever employed to separate the grid and ice blocks adhering is grasped at each end thereof by the hands of thereto from the'tray also serves as a handle 'for the grid structure'and facilitates manipulation thereof.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of. the claims which follow;

What is claimed is as follows: 1. In combination, a tray having a unitary grid structure removably disposed therein, said grid structure comprising a relatively narrow elongated resilient metal backbone member having a plurality of separate'rigid metal partitions secured thereto and depending therefrom to the bottom of said tray for dividing the interior thereof into rows of ice block compartments,

each of said partitions havinga part thereof extending lengthwise of said backbone member and another part thereof extending laterally from each side of said first named part, said laterally extending parts of said partitions being spaced apart along the length of said. grid structure and extending outwardly a substantial distance from said'backbone'lmember to provide said ice block compartments with open tops, a lever pivotally mounted upon said grid structure and having a part thereof on one side of its pivotal mount-- ing engaging a portion of said backbone,member and having another-part thereof on the other side of its pivotal mounting engaging a portion of said tray for locking said resilient backbone member in a horizontal position relative to the tray during freezing of a substance in said compartments, said lever being movable in one direction' of motion to release said first named part thereof fromsaid backbone member and being movable in another direction of motion for causing its second named part to apply force to the tray for elevating the unitary grid structure together with ice blocks adhering thereto relative to said tray, and said backbone member being flexible to permit bowing of said unitary grid structure, after same has been removed from the tray, whereby said laterally extending parts of said partitions will be moved away from one another to enlarge said ice block compartments and facilitate the removal of ice blocks therefrom.

2. In combination, a tray having a unitary grid structure removably disposed therein, said grid structure comprising a relatively narrow resilient metal backbone member having a plurality of vertically disposed rigid metal partitions depending therefrom and dividing the interior of said tray into rows of ice block compartments, each of said partitions being of a zigzag form and arranged to provide said grid structure with a longitudinal wall and a plurality of walls extending laterally therefrom in spaced apart relation along the length thereof, said laterally extending walls of said zigzag partitions extending a substantial distance outwardly from said resilient backbone member to provide said ice block compartments with open tops, a lever pivotally mounted upon an end of said grid structure and having a part thereof on one side of its pivotal mounting engaging a portion of said backbone member remote from the end of said grid structure and having ariadhering thereto relative to said tray, and said backbone member being flexible to permit bowing of said unitary grid structure, after same has been removed from the tray, whereby said laterally extending walls of said rigid partitions will be moved away from one another to enlarge said ice block compartments and facilitate the re, moval of ice blocks therefrom.

3. In combination, a tray having a unitary grid structure removably disposed therein, said grid structure comprising a resilient metal backbone member extending longitudinally of the tray and having a plurality of separate metal partitions secured thereto and depending therefrom to the bottom of said tray, said partitions each having a portion extending in a direction transverse of tate the removal of ice blocks therefrom.

the extension of said backbone member along the length of said grid structure to divide the interlor 01' said tray into a plurality of ice block compartments, said portions of said partitions projecting outwardly a substantial distance be yond said backbone member to provide said ice block compartments with open tops, a lever carried by said grid structure and having a part thereof engaging a portion of said tray for locking the grid therein and for holding said resilient backbone member in a parallel position relative to the bottom of the tray and for also maintaining said partitions in a normal ice block forming position, said lever being movable to unlock the grid from the tray and to cause said part thereof to apply force to the tray for elevating the unitary grid structure together with ice blocks adhering thereto relative to said tray, and said backbone member being flexible to permit bowing of said unitary grid structure, after same has been'removed from the tray, whereby said partitions will be moved relative to oneanother out of their normal ice block forming position to enlarge said ice block compartments and facili- FRANCIS P. KEIPER. 

